Motor-vehicle.



No. 696,694. Pate nt ed Apr. l90f2.

E. J. PENNINGTON.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

(Applicabipn filed June 22, 1901.) (No Model.)

UNrTn PATENT Triton.

EDWARD J. PENNINGTON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. XV. PLANK AND GEORGE EDVARD MILLS, OF CARLISLE, PENN- SYLVANIA.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

SBEGIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,694, dated April 1, 1902.

Application filed June 22,1901.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l', EDWARD J. PENNING- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at the Hotel Metropole, London, England, 5 have invented new and useful Improvements in Motor Driven and Steered Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in motor-driven vehicles the moving power of which is steam; but the invention is equally applicable to a vehicle driven by electricity, compressed air, or other fluid. In application, Serial No. 65,721, filed June 22, 1901, I have described and I claimed an improvement in automobiles wherein each wheel is provided with an independent motor which in itself forms a part of or is attached to the fork or standard in which the wheel is mounted, and means are therein described whereby the steering is accomplished by a mechanical connection made between certain of the driving-wheels, two companion wheels being simultaneouslygiven partial rotation on their forks. My present invention, while retaining much of the mechanism described in my said application, Serial No. 65,721, dispenses with the mechanical steering devices therein specified, the steering being herein mainly accomplished by dio minishing or increasing at will the admission of steam or other motive agent supplied to either motor. For instance, if I wish to run the wagon to the right I increase the admission of steam on the left-side motor, so as to drive more rapidly the wheel on the left, and

I can accelerate this action by partially or entirely cutting ofi the steam or other motive fluid from the right-side motor. It will be evident that the wheels, being capable of piv- 0 otal or swiveling movement, will be rotated upon the fork-standard in accordance with the peripheral speed at which they are driven. When only one valve is used, it is so designed that the allowing of greater admission of fluid to one motor will automatically cut off the same proportion of fluid-supply to the other motor.

With very powerful motors-such, for example, as are used in carrying heavy loads of merchandise-I prefer to use two steam- Valves, one being placed on each side of the Serial No. 65,722. (No model.)

branch steam-pipe, each conveying steam to a separate motor. Each motor, it must be understood, is fitted with necessary devices for reversing, and in this Way not only can I drive one motor forward, but at the same time can drive the other in the opposite direction, and either the forward or backward drive may be at a speed desired by the driver. The value of such a steering device when turning on narrow streets or maneuveringin confined spaces or backing in contracted or crowded areas for loading goods will be readily 'u nderstood.

In vehicles such as omnibuses, but particularly wagons designed for the carrying of heavy goods and merchandise-wagons which might themselves be occasionally used to draw other vehicles behind them, and where it is consequently desirable to get as good a grip on the ground. as possible, I prefer to place a motor or motors on each wheel of the vehicle.

I have preferred to illustrate the use of my invention with steam as the motive power; but it will be obvious that for compressed air or gas (which would be carried in steel cylinders attached to the frame or bridge work uniting each pair of wheels or to the body of the Vehicle itself) or electricity it is equally applicable. The steam or motive agent is conveyed by flexible tubing or conductors to the several motors, andby means of valves or their equivalent the feed of the fluid there to may be controlled, whereby the relative speed of each driven wheel may be altered at will by the driver and steering in any desired direction accomplished. v

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle to which my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. Fig. 3 shows a modified form of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the respective figures.

1 1 may represent, generally, the body of a vehicle of any approved type, of which 2 2, &c., are the four wheels. The general dispo- ICC forks are mounted in sleeves 6, carried by the respective axles 4 5. In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown the front Wheels onlyadapted for steering, while in Fig. 3 all of the four wheels, each being provided with an independent motor, are intended to be employed, as desired, in the steering action. I

As in my aforesaid application, each fork standard or pillar '7 isadapted' to have rotatory motion within a sleeve 6, and each fork is provided with a motor or motors or, as explained in my said application, with a pair of twin cylinders 9, the general construction of the cylinders, with their cross-heads, connecting-rods, cran k-shaf t, and other features,

' being substantially'the same as therein described. Furthermore, my present invention contemplates the use of a power generating, producing, or distributing device, which, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, is carried by the front axle 4. This power-generating device, whether a steam-boiler or otherwise, may, if desired, be used for transmitting the motive fluid to all the cylinders of the respective motors, or a separate boiler or equivalent device may be used, especially-for the rear wheels,

and attached to the rear axle or other convenient point. Such an arrangement is shown by dotted lines in Fig. My present invention not reaching to details of construction entering into the boiler or its equivalent device, said boiler. is not herein specifically described, but with its appurtenances is repre- Each motor is provided with suitable reversing-gear, (here shown by 22,) it being understood that for short turns on narrow streets or in contracted or crowded places it is desirable to reverse the motor of one wheel while the companion wheel is stationary or being rotated in the opposite direction.

lVhile it is believed my invention is set forth in the full, clear, and exact terms enabling those skilled in the art to construct an operative device from the description given, I have not explained the invention with all the particularity as to detail of which it is capable, reserving to myself the right to make future application for such details or specific structures as I may deem expedient to incorporate in a motor-driven vehicle of this class.

The invention herein described may be varied in minor and unimportant features which may suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic without the exercise ofinvention, and

all such deviations from the structure here disclosed, not involving invention I claim as fully within the scope of my improvement.

I claim In a motor-driven vehicle, the combination of driving-wheels, each mounted in a fork or standard, .comprising'or embodying the independent motor' or driver of said wheel; a generator or distributer of motive power common to each of said motors; means for independently conveying or transmitting power to each individual motor, and an independent reversing device for each motor, whereby the vehicle may be steered by varying the peripheral speeds of the driving-wheels or changing the direction of certain of said wheels with respect to the direction of other wheels, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD J. PENNINGTON.

VVit-nesses:

GEORGE H. HOWARD, JOHN B. TOBIN. 

